Cleaning implement having a swivelly mounted handle



Oct. 29, 1963 ROY 3,108,304

CLEANING IMPLEMENT HAVING A SWIVELLY MOUNTED HANDLE 7 Filed March 21, 1960 Inventor, Rickard R0],

ydw ,4 Waam United States Patent 3,198,304 CLEANING IMPLEMENT HAVING A SWHVELLY MGUNTED HANDLE Richard Roy, Qentral Falls, RH. (299 Conant Sh, Pawtncket, RI.) Filed Mar. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 16,237 6 Claims. (Ci. -144) The present invention relates to a cleaning implement. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cleaning device such as a dust mop or the like wherein the handle attached to the head of the mop is swivelly mounted so that the direction of working movement of the head may be changed by a simple manipulation of the handle.

It is the usual practice in the use of cleaning implements such as dust mops to move the head of the mop on the surface being cleaned in a forward and backward motion. The handles connected to the prior known mop constructions have generally been pivotally mounted to permit the reciprocating movement thereof. However in many instances it is desirable to change the working direction of the mop without having to physically lift the mop head from its position on the floor being cleaned. Prior to the instant invention none of the heretofore known cleaning implements included any means for changing the direction of working movement of the mop, and therefore the entire mop head had to be lifted from engagement with the surface and rotated so that the desired movement could be eifected. The present invention is designed to overcome these heretofore known diificulties in changing the direction of working movement of a cleaning implement and includes a novel swivel connection between the handle of the cleaning implement and the head portion thereof which provides for adjustment of the handle with respect to the head portion so that the direction of movement of the head portion may be changed without the removal thereof from the surface being cleaned.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning implement that includes a handle that is swivelly mounted with respect to the head portion thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning implement which includes means for changing the direction of working movement thereof, as desired, without removing the implement from the working surface.

Still another object is to provide a head portion for use in a cleaning implement that has a handle swivelly connected thereto, the handle being movable between a first position wherein the horizontal projection of the axis of the handle is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head portion and a second position wherein the horizontal projection of the axis of the handle is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the head portion.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by me for carrying out my invention:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the cleaning implement embodied herein, the handle of the cleaning implement being shown swivelly movable from the solid line position to the dotted line position thereof.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the head portion of the cieaning implement showing the manner in which the handle is attached thereto, a portion of the handle being broken away.

KG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 in FIG. 2, and I FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the end of the handle portion showing an outwardly projecting offset eye portion secured therein.

The invention embodied herein has particular application for use in cleaning implements such as dusters and mops. However it is understood that the swivel connection that forms the basic concept of the invention and which will be described hereinafter may be incorporated in other similar devices and implements.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the cleaning implement embodied in the present invention is illustrated and is generally indicated at 10. The cleaning implement 16 includes three basic elements, the first being a head portion generally indicated at 12 in FIG. 2; the second being cleaning members 14 mounted on the head portion 12; and the third being a handle swivelly connected to the head portion 12 and generally indicated at 16. The head portion 12 has a generally elongated configuration and in the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2 is defined by a heavy wire member that is bent to define parallel elements 1% and 2d. The element 13 is shown having a space 25 formed therein that defines the ends of the heavy wire stock from which the head portion 12 is constructed. The elements 18 and 20 are spaced apart sufficiently to receive an intermediate portion 22 therebetween, the intermediate portion 22 being welded or brazed to the elements 18 and 2t) and having an upstanding projection 24 formed thereon. The upstanding projection 24 which is formed as part of a handle mounting assembly is located substantially centrally of the ends of the head portion and has an eye portion 26 (FIG. 3) formed thereon, the axis of which is oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of the head portion 12. Fixed within the eye portion 26 of the projection 24 is a collar 28 through which a bolt 30 extends. As shown in FIG. 3 the shank 32 of the bolt is somewhat longer than the collar 28 and extends outwardly from the end thereof so that a portion of the shank is exposed. The outer edge of the collar 23 defines a shoulder 34 with the bolt shank 32, the shank 32 being reduced in diameter with respect to the collar 28. Referring again to FIG. 2, the bolt 30 and the collar 28 are shown being located coaxial with respect to the eye portion 26 of the projection 24 and therefore also extend in an oblique direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the head portion 12. Although the intermediate portion 22 is illustrated as being formed as a separate and independent member that is welded to the opposed elements 18 and 20, it is understood that this member may be formed as an integral part of the element 13 and would be bent inwardly adjacent the space 25 formed between the free ends of the wire stock that defines the elements 18 and 20. It is also understood that the head portion 12 may be formed of fiat stock or the like, while the intermediate portion 22 may be formed of a stamping and bent in the required manner without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Formed in each of the cleaning members 14 is an elongated pocket 36 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, the pockets 36 having an open end into which a curved end section of the head portion 12 extends.

Since the upstanding projection 24 is disposed intermediate the ends of the head portion 12 the cleaning members 14 may be slidably moved on to the opposite sides of the head portion 12 until the open ends of the pockets 3d are positioned closely adjacent the upstan ng projection 24.

The handle 1% is adapted to be swivelly mounted on the mounting assembly of the head portion 12 and for this purpose includes an elongated handle member 37 and an extension 38 formed of wire stock, the inner end 39 cf the extension 38 extending within the adjacent end of the handle member 37. A cap 40 formed with a slot 42 through which the extension 38 projects is secured to the outer end of the handle member 37 and acts to retain the extension 38 in position and further serves as an ornamental cap for the inner end of the handle 16. Joined to the outer end of the extension 38 is an offset eye member 40 in which an opening 41 is formed, the axis of the opening 41 being inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle 16.

In assembling the handle 16 to the mounting assembly of the head portion 12, the eye member 48 is mounted on the collar 28 with the collar extending through the opening 41, sulficient space being provided on the collar 28 to enable the eye member 41 to clear the shoulder 34. A wing nut 44 threadably engages the threaded shank 32 of the bolt 30 and upon rotation thereof with respect to the shank, the wing nut 44 will be moved to the left, as seen in FIG. 3 until it engages the shoulder 34. Since the shoulder 34 is spaced from the eye portion 26 a distance greater than the thickness of the eye member 40, the eye member is loosely locked on the collar 28 between the eye portion 40 and the wing nut 44. Since 'the eye member 40 is loosely mounted on the collar 28, the handle 16 is swivelly mounted with respect to the head portion 12.

In use, the cleaning members 14 are mounted on the ends of the head portion 12 and are moved inwardly until the pockets 36 are located closely adjacent the projection 24. The cleaning implement may now be utilized in the conventional manner, the handle 16 extending upwardly from the head portion 12 and inclined with respect to the horizontal so that the movement of the device over the surface to be cleaned may be facilitated. In this position, the horizontal projection of the longitudinal axis of the handle 16 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head portion. Oftentimes the cleaning implement is moved to a location wherein the direction of movement of the cleaning members has to be reversed, so that instead of moving the head portion 14- in a direction toward the top and bottom of the drawing, the movement thereof will be in a direction perpendicular with respect thereto, that is, to the sides of the drawing as seen in FIG. 1. Since it is not desirable to physically lift the cleaning members 14 to change the direction of movement thereof, the swivel connection between the handle 16 and the head portion 12 is utilized and enables the handle 16 to be swivelly moved from the position shown in full lines in FIG. 1 to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, this direction of movement of the handle being shown by the arrows. In this position, the horizontal projection of the longitudinal axis of the handle 16 is now parallel to the longitudinal axis of the head portion 12 and with the user of the implement relocating his position, that is, in line with the axis of the head portion, the cleaning members 14 may now be moved backward and forward by the user in a normal working direction. It is also seen that the handle 16 is movable within a quadrant defined by the longitudinal axis of the handle and the longitudinal axis of the head portion and that the handle may be movedto any position within this quadrant so that any desired working movement may be applied to the cleaning members depending on the cleaning requirements.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cleaning implement, an elongated head having a mounting assembly joined thereto, said mounting assembly including a bolt projecting over said head and fixed in position with respect thereto, the axis of said fixed bolt extending in an oblique direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of said head, a cleaning member mounted on said head, a handle having an outwardly projecting extension that terminates in an eye member, the axis of said eye member being oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of said handle, and said eye member being loosely secured to said bolt in coaxial relation to swivelly mount said handle with respect to said head so that the direction of working movement of said cleaning member may be changed as desired.

In an implement, an elongated head portion having a work member secured thereto, said head portion including a mounting element that extends upwardly therefrom and includes an eye portion, the axis of said eye portion being oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of said head portion, a handle adapted to be operatively connected to said head portion and including a reduced extension terminating in an eye member, the said eye member being offset so that the axis thereof is oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of said handle, said eye member engaging said mounting element in coaxial relation with respect thereto, and means loosely securing said eye member to said mounting element so that said handle may be moved relative to said head portion, the offset construction of the eye member permitting said handle to be swiveled relative to said head portion for changing the direction in which said work member is moved.

3. In a work implement as set forth in claim 2, said handle being movable on the swivel connection thereof from a first position wherein the horizontal projection of the axis of said handle is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said head portion to a second position wherein the horizontal projection of the axis of said handle is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said head portion.

4. In a work implement, an elongated head portion having a work member secured thereto, said head portion including a mounting bolt that is fixedly joined thereto at substantially the midpoint thereof and projecting thereabove in a direction wherein the axis thereof is always oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of said head portion, said mounting bolt thereby being prevented from movement in a direction to change the relative position of said bolt with respect to said head, a handle operatively connected to said head portion and including an offset eye member that is loosely secured to said mounting bolt in coaxial relation with respect thereto, said handle being swivelly movable on said fixed mounting bolt to permit swinging movement thereof from a first position that is generally rearwardly of said head portion to a second position that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of said head portion, wherein the direction of the working movement of said work member is adapted to be changed 5. In a work implement as set forth in claim 4, a shoulder defined by said bolt, and a securing nut engaging said bolt for securing said eye member thereto, said securing nut contacting said shoulder and thereby being prevented from tightening said eye member on said bolt.

6. In a work implement as set forth in claim 4, said eye member being formed as part of an extension that is secured to said handle and projecting outwardly therefrom, the axis of said eye member being oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of said handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 368,070 Cline Aug. 9, 1887 1,681,011 Robinson Aug. 14, 1928 1,797,614 Lazzarini Mar. 24, 1931 1,885,540 Oberti Nov. 1, 1932 2,887,712 Vosbikian et al May 26, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 596,678 France Oct. 29, 1925 614,552 Germany June 21, 1935 

1. IN A CLEANING IMPLEMENT, AN ELONGATED HEAD HAVING A MOUNTING ASSEMBLY JOINED THERETO, SAID MOUNTING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A BOLT PROJECTING OVER SAID HEAD AND FIXED IN POSITION WITH RESPECT THERETO, THE AXIS OF SAID FIXED BOLT EXTENDING IN AN OBLIQUE DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID HEAD, A CLEANING MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID HEAD, A HANDLE HAVING AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING EXTENSION THAT TERMINATES IN AN EYE MEMBER, THE AXIS OF SAID EYE MEMBER BEING OBLIQUE WITH RESPECT TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID HANDLE, AND SAID EYE MEMBER BEING LOOSELY SECURED TO SAID BOLT IN COAXIAL RELATION TO SWIVELLY MOUNT SAID HANDLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID HEAD SO THAT THE DIRECTION OF WORKING MOVEMENT OF SAID CLEANING MEMBER MAY BE CHANGED AS DESIRED. 